Got a Little Home to Go To – 1998 (Rounder)

Reviewed by Mark "Brink" Brinkman

CDs by Bob Holt

There is an old joke that goes, "How do you tell the difference between fiddle tunes?" Answer: "by the title." This album is not about smooth, pretty fiddle playing. It is about good old dance music - true Ozark fiddling square dance music to be more exact. The rhythm and the feel of the tune takes on more significance than the actual tune itself. In fact, many sound the same. Holt says himself, "some fiddle players could play better music than I could, smoother and prettier, but they couldn't put the same flavor in the tunes."

Producer Mark Wilson wanted to capture the excitement of a live square dance. Holt has succeeded, fiddling through 25 tunes. Some such as "Sally Goodin'," "Goin' Across the Sea" and "Black Mountain Rag" will be familiar.

Joined by Alvie Dooms on guitar, Jim Beeler on banjo and Patty Beeler on bass, Holt and his local band prod and encourage folks to "get out there, we're gonna do a square dance." He then proceeds to take off at a breakneck pace to the delight of all attending. Album notes give a history lesson dating back to the late 1800's, providing a feel of how important music was to bring a little joy into tough times. If looking for modern "commercial" style fiddling you will not find it here. However, if authentic old time fiddling is what you are looking for, you will find a wonderful dose.